Cook's Choice: A Bad Boy Protector Romance (Lost Boys Book 4)

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  “He is.” Carly nods, not even a little embarrassed or bothered by the whole situation. “Josie almost tripped over her own feet when she saw him this morning.”

  “That Josie needs to find a handsome man herself.” Violet starts to back up, but stops when she notices what’s in my hands. “Is that some of those tacos you had yesterday?”

  “No tacos today.” I flip open the lid on the top container. “I brought Greek spaghetti and meatballs.”

  “Holy hell.” Violet makes a hasty turn. “Let me get my tray set up.” She scoots across the floor with Carly right behind her, grabbing the tray with one hand and setting it up in front of the large upholstered recliner. I step in as soon as Carly seems to have Violet situated and set the top container in front of her, dropping a pack of plastic-ware beside it.

  She doesn’t waste any time ripping the utensils open and digging in. “Good lord.” She stabs the tines of her fork in my direction as she turns to Carly. “That one cooks as good as he looks.”

  “You should try his French toast.” Carly flips the lid on her own lunch and shoves a whole meatball into her mouth.

  I love that she enjoys food with abandon. No careful, tiny bites and pretending not to eat from this woman.

  She shovels it in with no apologies.

  No worry or fear of judgment.

  I need to be more like her. Learn from the example she sets.

  “I hate to deliver lunch and run, but I’ve got to head out.” I move toward the door.

  “Aren’t you going to kiss her goodbye?” Violet wiggles her brows at me.

  Carly barely blushes as she shoots Violet a glare.

  Violet’s mouth drops open in mock confusion. “What?” She turns back to her food. “It’s not like an old woman wants to feel like she’s a part of young love again.” She spins a nest of noodles and feta onto her fork, sighing. “It’s fine. You can just leave then.”

  “You’re a handful aren’t you?”

  She slowly looks my way, giving me a grin over her uplifted bite. “Aren’t the best ones?”

  My gaze moves to Carly. I can’t help it.

  “Definitely.”

  16

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE he didn’t kiss you.”

  “You made it weird.” I take a bite of the amazing lunch Levi brought me. It’s pasta with feta cheese, kalamata olives, some sort of delectable meatballs, and a whole slew of grilled vegetables.

  “Pshh.” Violet is almost all the way through her hefty portion. “He got his nipples pierced?”

  “I can’t talk about this with you.” I guzzle some water. “I’m supposed to be professional.”

  “That went out the window when I helped you stalk him.” Violet leans my way, lowering her voice like that might make a difference. “I think I saw the little knobby things through his t-shirt.”

  “Maybe.” I smile when she scoffs.

  There’s a knock at Violet’s door.

  “Come on.” Violet doesn’t even pretend to stop eating.

  Josie peeks her head in. “I heard he brought you food.” She sniffs the air. “Holy crap it smells good.”

  “It’s Greek spaghetti.” Violet pulls hers closer. “And I’m not sharing.”

  Josie sits on the edge of Violet’s bed, her eyes sliding to the foam tray Violet is guarding with one arm. “Did you talk to him about maybe bringing a couple of his trucks here for lunch one day?”

  “I did.” I start to close the lid on my container, but stop when Josie’s eyes land on it. I hold it out to her. “Want to try it?”

  “I don’t want to eat your lunch.” Her eyes don’t move.

  “I had a big breakfast.” I wiggle the leftovers. “I don’t have cooties.”

  “If she doesn’t want it I do.” Violet straightens in her seat, trying to see how much is left of mine.

  Josie snatches the container from me before Violet can make another move. “And what was this big breakfast you had?”

  “French toast and sausage.” I smile. “He makes breakfast every morning.”

  “Don’t take this wrong, because you are the sweetest person I know and I am thrilled for you.” Josie smiles at me. “But I am so freaking jealous right now.”

  I smile back at her. “Thank you.”

  Josie digs into the rest of my lunch, pausing occasionally to ponder how a man who looks as good as Levi does can also cook like he does. “Is he messy?” She waves one hand around. “Leave all his dirty clothes everywhere?”

  “No. He’s probably neater than I am.” I clean up after myself, but Levi might be a little obsessive about it.

  “There’s got to be something wrong with him.” She leans my way. “Please, for the love, tell me there’s something wrong with him.”

  “Nobody’s perfect.” I shrug. “I’m sure there’s things that will annoy me, but he’s a good person. He takes care of everyone around him. He doesn’t lie.” I look around the room as I try to think of something. “He’s grumpy. I guess some people wouldn’t like that.”

  “That makes me feel better.” Josie leans back, flipping the lid of the empty container into place. “But it means he’s perfect for you, because I know for a fact you like the grumps.”

  “I do.” I’m always the one called to deal with the old men when they get in fights. “I’ll take a grump over a charmer any day.”

  Josie shakes her head. “Not me. I like the charming ones.” She blows out a sigh. “It’s probably why I always end up single. All charm, no substance.”

  “Did you come just to see what I had for lunch?” I grab Violet’s empty container, stacking in her used fork and napkin before closing the lid. She’s starting to look a little glazed over and ready for a nap.

  Josie stands up. “I actually came to see if you’d go with me to a meeting today.”

  “A meeting?” I turn to wave at Violet as we head out, but she’s already snoring.

  “Yeah.” She gives me a squinty smile. “Full-disclosure, it’s because the guy coming in makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Oh.” I toss our empty lunch containers in one of the trash cans in the main hall. “That stinks.”

  She shrugs. “It is what it is.” Josie follows me into my office. “I would cut him completely loose except he gets a great deal on equipment.”

  “Maybe he does it for a reason.” I open my email and scan the line of new messages.

  “Ew.” Josie winces. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”

  I shrug. “My mother taught me to always assume the worst in men.”

  “That’s sad.” Josie leans back in her seat. “I mean, I haven’t had the best luck with men, but that doesn’t mean they’re always the problem.” She bounces her head from side to side. “I have my own fun characteristics to deal with.”

  “Don’t we all.” I reach an email from a name I don’t recognize and click it open. It’s one line of text.

  But that one line is more than enough to make me want to lose the fantastic lunch Levi brought me.

  Did you like the picture I sent you?

  “Carly?” Josie stands and rounds my desk, her eyes locking onto my screen. “Do you know who that’s from?”

  “No.” The email is a basic Google account with just a jumble of letters and numbers for the front of the address.

  She hurries to the open door and peeks outside before swinging it closed. “Is this about that picture you got yesterday?”

  I nod, trying to swallow down the saliva collecting in my mouth.

  Levi was right.

  Herbert is going to come for me.

  ****

  “HEY, PINKY.” LEVI meets me at the front door to Elm Grove with a grin and a drink. “I brought you something to try.”

  I force on a smile as I take the clear cup filled with green liquid and a pile of ice. “What is it?”

  “It’s a matcha drink I’m thinking of adding to the menu at the taco truck.” His eyes scan the lot as one arm comes around me. “Anything intere
sting happen today?”

  “Nope.” I suck down a mouthful of the beverage to avoid the temptation to tell him about the email.

  I don’t want him to worry.

  Actually, I just want to pretend it didn’t happen.

  Just for a little bit. I’ll tell him about it tomorrow.

  “Wow.” I lift the cup to peer at the contents. “What is this?”

  Levi opens the passenger’s door. “It’s macha horchata.”

  “That has a ring to it.”

  He grins as I sit down. “It does, doesn’t it?”

  I let out a breath as the tightness in my chest eases a little.

  I missed him.

  I buckle up as he gets in. “How was your day?”

  Levi starts the truck and pulls out, not wasting any time sitting in the lot. “It started out a little rough, but got a hell of a lot better.”

  “I’m sorry it started bad.” I drink a little more cha-cha-cha-whatever it is.

  “It was my own fault.” He glances my way. “Sometimes I can be an asshole.”

  “Sometimes you act like an asshole.” I shift the straw around, working it to the bottom of the cup. “There’s a difference.”

  He’s quiet for a minute, one hand slung over the steering wheel. “Maybe there is.”

  I smile. “Well, what else did you accomplish besides making an amazing brand new drink?”

  “Amazing, huh?” He eyes me. “Don’t forget I saw what you were eating before me, Pinky. I know your standards aren’t high.”

  “Don’t knock my noodles. They got the job done.” I wiggle my finger at him. “Not all of us are as culinarily skilled as you are.”

  “I did get an interesting call from one of your coworkers today.” He keeps his eyes out the windshield. “Josie wants to set up a meeting to see if we can work out a time for the trucks to come to Elm Grove.”

  “Josie is my boss.”

  “She said coworker.” He lifts his brows at me. “And she said you would be at the meeting too.”

  “I guess that means I’m her new meeting buddy.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. She asked me to be in a meeting today with a vendor who makes her uncomfortable.”

  Levi stiffens in his seat and his hand grips the wheel until his knuckles are white. “That’s interesting.”

  “I can see why he makes her feel weird. He tries to be overly touchy and sits way too close.”

  I hear the leather of the wheel creak. “That’s good that you could be there to help her feel better.”

  “Oh. I don’t think she felt any better.” I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes. “He ended up getting kind of shitty when he realized what was happening.” I stifle a yawn. “We had to have him escorted out.”

  Levi is silent.

  I peek at him. His arm is flexed, the muscles just under his skin more pronounced than I’ve ever seen them. His jaw is clenched tight and his nostrils are flared. “You okay?”

  “Yup. Fine.”

  “You don’t look fine.”

  His lips press tight together as he stares at the red light stopping our trip home. “Just trying to keep my shit together.”

  I sip on my drink and watch him as the light turns green. He drives silently for a few minutes before glancing my way. “Are you going to stare at me like that the whole way?”

  “Maybe.” I drink a little more of my cha-cha. “I think you’re handsome.”

  Levi snorts out a chuckle, his sour face breaking into a smile. “Thank you.”

  “Your spaghetti put Violet in a coma.” I shake the ice around my cup. “I really like this a lot.”

  “I’m glad.” His hand comes across the cab to find mine, grabbing it and pulling it to his lips and holding it there.

  I scoot across a little and lean against him, resting my head on his shoulder. “When are you coming in to talk to Josie about the visit?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  I tip my eyes his way. “That’s quick.”

  “She seemed to be in a hurry.”

  “I gave her the rest of my lunch.”

  “Didn’t you like it?” He doesn’t sound upset. Just curious.

  “It was amazing, I was just still sort of full from breakfast.” I drop my head and close my eyes. “Someone stuffed me full of French toast.”

  “I figured you might be extra hungry after last night.”

  I’ve never discussed sex with a man. If one tried, I always shut it down, thinking it was what I should do.

  How I should act.

  I was wrong.

  “We should do it again tonight.”

  “Glad we’re on the same page.” Levi wraps his arm around me, holding me close the rest of the ride to the firehouse.

  “What’s going to happen when this is all over?” The firehouse already feels more like home than my own apartment ever did, and the thought of going back to nights alone and mornings with cereal doesn’t sound appealing.

  Levi shuts off the truck and turns to me. “Are you uncomfortable staying here?” He swallows loud enough I can hear. “I can find somewhere else safe for you to stay if that’s what you want.”

  I shake my head. “I like it here.” I reach out to draw along the FrankenFood design on his forearm. “I like being with you.”

  “I like having you here with me. Maybe too much.” He sucks in a deep breath. “I’m a jealous bastard sometimes, Carly. I’m trying to be better, but...”

  I wait, thinking he’s going to finish that thought.

  Levi stays silent.

  “But what?”

  He tips his head back to stare at the interior’s ceiling. “It makes me fucking crazy when anyone else gets close to you.” He pauses, his blue eyes dropping to mine. “Or says something nice about you.” Levi purses his lips for a second before spitting out the last bit. “Hell, sometimes all they have to do is look at you.”

  It makes me sad. Sort of breaks my heart for him.

  It’s one more bit of fear that he tries to hide with anger.

  I press my hands to his face, using my hold to pull him closer. “My friend Josie might have been in a hurry for another reason.”

  His brows come together. I know what I’m saying doesn’t make sense now, but it will.

  I smile at him. “She thinks you are absolutely gorgeous, and probably wants to check you out up close.”

  “Does that bother you?” Another question that isn’t confrontational. Only curious.

  Levi has convinced himself he’s something he’s not. Has used a facade to protect himself for so long he’s decided that man is really him.

  But it’s not. Anyone with eyes can see the man he really is.

  Except for him, apparently.

  “No. It doesn’t.” I lift one shoulder. “Josie is my friend. I trust her.” I tilt my head, searching his eyes as I realize the whole truth. “And I trust you.”

  His gaze stays on mine and like usual Levi stays quiet.

  “And she’s not wrong.”

  Levi’s head drops and his ears turn red.

  “It sort of makes me proud that she thinks you’re attractive.” I keep my eyes on his. “Does that make me weird?”

  Levi shakes his head, an easy smile playing at his lips. “No. But it does make me feel like a dick.”

  “You’re not a dick.”

  “I’m glad you don’t think so, but sometimes I sure as hell act like one.” He holds my chin with one hand and pulls my face to his, catching me as I fall his way and tugging me close as his mouth covers mine. I breathe deep, the scent of his skin calming my still-edgy nerves as his teeth nip at my lower lip. “I’m going to be better for you, Carly. I promise.”

  “Better than the man who makes me breakfast and lunch and has put his whole life on hold because I accidentally stalked him during a drive-by?”

  “That wasn’t an accident, Pinky.”

  “It was sort of an accident.” I poke the straw to my cup between our
still-close lips and take another drink. “I didn’t mean to get caught.”

  He laughs. “I was not expecting you to be as funny as you are.”

  “Me either.” I try to drink a little more but the tiny bit left just rattles around the straw. I look down. “Awe.”

  Levi is still laughing when he gets out of the truck. I’m still collecting my stuff as he opens my door and takes the empty cup from me. “You are fucking amazing.” He grabs my hand and pulls me close. “What do you want to do when this is all over, Pinky? How do you see this going?”

  I roll my lips in and press them together.

  I’ve been in long-term relationships.

  They always felt stuffy and formal.

  Because I acted stuffy and formal.

  And maybe it wasn’t just my mother’s fault.

  Maybe it was mine too.

  “I want to stay here. With you.” I keep going, the honesty freeing me more than I expected. “Even when I don’t have to.”

  I’ve lived my whole life closed off.

  Just like Levi, but in a different way.

  “I like you more than I’ve ever liked anyone.” I smile at how easy it is. How simple the truth can be.

  I don’t care if it scares him. I don’t care if it scares me.

  I’m tired of holding back what I think. What I feel.

  What I am. I’m not hiding it from him.

  I’m not hiding it from myself.

  “I like you more than I’ve ever liked anyone too, Pinky.” He brushes his lips across my neck. “That includes myself.”

  “It’s time for you to like yourself.” I lean into him, closing my eyes as his warmth seeps through my sweater. It’s the most wonderful feeling. Like his body is feeding mine every time he touches me.

  “I’m trying, Pinky. I promise.”

  I tuck my face into the crook of his neck. “I love the way you smell.”

  “Thank you.”

  Simple acceptance of the compliment. No denial. No silence.

  “Jesus Christ. How damn long does it take you two to get in the house?”

  I peek over Levi’s shoulder to find Moon standing in the open doorway, his shirt half unbuttoned, but still tucked into his well-cut pants. His gaze is wary as it lands on Levi.